Good bear news
I’ve always had a soft spot for bears, so it’s not surprising that this story: Bear dens and ancient trees face onslaught of logging in Poland, caught my attention. Bears are a protected species in the wilds of Poland, and loggers have started to encroach on the habitat of the remaining 110 bears in the country. The article tells how dependant the bears are on the trees and the ones that have fallen, scraping the many grubs that hang around the bark into their paws for a tasty snack. Also, the bears use the fallen trees as a bench to sit on for meals, and so they should! If the loggers continue their onslaught, the dwindling population of these unique European bears will rapidly become extinct.
Luckily sense has prevailed: ‘For the first time, a regional court in Krosno has temporarily suspended felling based on the evidence. ‘This decision has no precedent in Polish judicial history, despite this EU law being in place since Poland joined the bloc 18 years ago. Campaigners say it could signal changes in the legal protection for wild animals threatened by human activity.’ Guardian
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My recent publications
Otto and Frankie, my latest novel, about a dying man’s fight against injustice, his wife’s unusual affair, and the love from his long-lost daughter.
Otto and his daughter Frankie could not be more different. He’s rich, an acclaimed author, human rights activist, and lives in England. She lives in New York, just about survives from one pay cheque to the next and hasn’t seen or spoken to her father for twenty years. Dutifully reunited by his impending death, she’s amazed to find him a kind and noble man who, while grappling with his wife’s bizarre affair, champions for the world’s forgotten and dispossessed to his last. After Otto’s death, Frankie’s admiration for her father leads her into a dangerous and life changing pursuit.
Life in four stories
Four shorts: two about life, love, and death; one a poignant and disturbing memory that dangles a question unanswered; and one a wild fantasy – plus the first chapter of my latest book, Otto and Frankie.
Nick Wastnage 